something fast and refined for under five grand?

[anunusedusername]

I've been out of the UK for a few years, but am planning a driving holiday around Europe for a couple of months next year. I considered renting something more interesting than a diesel fiesta, but the costs quickly stack up, so thought I'd look at buying instead.

Brief is pretty simple, fast and refined, under five grand. I want to beat ten minutes round the ring (so a car capable of 9.5 mins would be good, I'm no Stig) and I'd like it to be quiet on the motorway. At first glance I like an early 2000s XJR. Other suggestions welcome :-)

One other thing, without an address in the uk am I going to struggle to get it registered/insured?

[A1ex]

Have a look at a Megane RS It's incredibly fast and will stand up to most challengers, isn't loud around town and was build with The Ring in mind (Brembos, Eibach, bucket seats etc).

I've had mine a year but I don't get out in it as much as I should, planning to take it to the Ring at some point!

[trickywoo]

Do you have have any no claims left? If not anything on spec is going to be costly / impossible to insure.

[Chicane-UK]

This is the second time in as many days I've suggested people look in the 'Best Smoker Barges for 1-5k' thread at least as a starting point, especially if you're thinking of big jags or similar.

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

Cheers.

[sparks_E39]

E39 540i Sport.

[111rlotusowner]

A1ex said:

Have a look at a Megane RS It's incredibly fast and will stand up to most challengers, isn't loud around town and was build with The Ring in mind (Brembos, Eibach, bucket seats etc).

I've had mine a year but I don't get out in it as much as I should, planning to take it to the Ring at some point!

It's quick, not incredibly fast! Take your car along to a track day and see how fast others are lapping.

[Riley Blue]

Chicane-UK said:

This is the second time in as many days I've suggested people look in the 'Best Smoker Barges for 1-5k' thread at least as a starting point, especially if you're thinking of big jags or similar.

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

Cheers.

That's what I did, I now drive a 69,000 mile, sub £5,000 2003, 4.2, A8 - both fast and refined.

[anunusedusername]

Cheers all. Light on for ncb, maybe I'll get a mate to cover it. Have plenty of ncb in Australia, will anyone consider that (they do here). Not excited by the megane idea, no offense, just more interested in something with lots of cylinders :-)

[oilslick]

anunusedusername said:

Cheers all. Light on for ncb, maybe I'll get a mate to cover it. Have plenty of ncb in Australia, will anyone consider that (they do here). Not excited by the megane idea, no offense, just more interested in something with lots of cylinders :-)

You may wish to reconsider that, insurance companies are rather more wise to this than they used to be and would be delighted to cancel your cover and not pay any claims if they found out.

[anunusedusername]

So I won't tell them. Seriously let's not get caught up in insurance pedantry.
This looks nice
http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/j...